Iraqi Christian Organizations Present Pope Francis With Restored Aramaic Manuscript

Currents News Staff

Sidra, an Aramaic manuscript that’s at least 500 years old, belongs to the Syriac-Christian Church of Qaraqosh. It contains prayers to be recited between the feasts of Easter and the Holy Cross and is a gem for the Christian community, which is the largest in Iraq.

The book has a noteworthy story. It was objects like these that ISIS targeted. A group of priests managed to hide it, and in 2017, two Italian journalists found it.

It ended up in the hands of FOCSIV, a federation of Christian organizations dedicated to volunteer work. Its members restored the book.

They call it the “Refugee Book,” because it was a silent witness of the persecution of Iraq’s minorities between 2014 and 2017.

Before returning it to its land of origin, those who restored the book wanted to show it to Pope Francis.

“It had many problems. All the miniatures were covered with scraps of paper so they wouldn’t be visible,” they said. “The manuscript has a fascinating story, which we were able to write down.”

“You’ve worked miracles, haven’t you,” asked Pope Francis.

Lucilla Nuccitelli, from the ICPAL organization, which was in charge of the restoration, told the pope that it took 10 months to complete the project.

The president of the NGO that salvaged the book gave the pontiff a gift, with his upcoming trip to Iraq in mind.

“I am giving this to you as a symbol. It’s an apron for the women at our house in Qaraqosh,” they explained. “It’s a shelter for women, where they can receive formation and aid. It’s for refugee women.”

Pope Francis gave them a blessing and asked them for a favor, which has become a staple of his meetings.

“And pray for me, of course. And in favor, not against me,” he said.

“Certainly. Rest assured,” they answered.

In Iraq, the Holy Father will visit the Nineveh plains. He will arrive in Erbil on Sunday, March 7. There he will celebrate Mass. He will also visit Mosul and Qaraqosh.

This city is known as the Vatican of Iraq, as it is home to the country’s largest Christian community. It’s also the city that suffered the most damage from ISIS.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 2/24/21

The pandemic has hit us all very hard – working mothers in particular – one Catholic mom shares her story.

The FDA says Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine is safe and could approve it very soon. What this means for controlling the pandemic.

How one priest is using his old baseball cards to help Catholic school students.

Working Moms Are Pushed to the Limit During the Pandemic

By Jessica Easthope

Mornings come fast and seem to last long. For the last year, Brooke DiMeo has been working two jobs: one she doesn’t get paid for, it’s just expected.

“More like Groundhog Day,” Brooke said. “Chaotic but the same, you know, the same chaos: school work, work-work, housework, feeding the kids, entertaining the kids making sure I’m doing enough for the kids, doing enough for my job being as productive as I was prior.”

By 7:30 a.m. Brooke’s getting her kids, six-year-old Grace and four-year-old Tommy fed and ready for the day. But it’s not always smooth – it takes a lot of compromise, like allowing Tommy to watch his current favorite movie and helping Grace to put a little shimmer on her eyes.

Some days Brooke’s slippers get changed to sneakers because Grace and Tommy go to school in-person. But the second Brooke is back home and turns the key in the door -she clocks-in as an account executive at Hanes and only has a few hours to work in peace.

But on the days the kids are home, Brooke is forced to make yet another compromise.

“I’ve cried many times, like sitting at my desk because I have a project,” she said. “I have a deadline but my kids need the school work done. Tommy’s screaming over something and I mean I definitely feel like I’ve been set back a bit in my career.”

According to the Census Bureau, one-in-five working-age adults are unemployed because the pandemic has upended their childcare. Women are three times more likely than men to stay home with the kids. Whereas 9.8 million working American mothers are suffering from burnout, they’re 28 percent more likely to experience it than fathers.

“You’re never able to give 100 percent to one thing because you’re doing, you know, two, three, four things at once,” said Brooke, whose husband Mike works as an elevator mechanic in Manhattan. “So it’s kind of depleting and it’s upsetting. You always feel like you’re failing.”

Along with longer grocery lists, higher bills and shorter days, Brooke says the pandemic has shown just how undervalued mothers are and that their strength is only as strong as the support they’re given.

“When you equate how many hours they’re working as a mother – financial compensation would be nice from the government,” she said. “I don’t think they’ve really supported mothers the right way at all considering how much they’ve taken on during the pandemic.”

But Brooke says she can’t help but count her blessings and that her faith is part of what keeps her powering forward.

“I need that Sunday at church to just like, I don’t know, have a second to reset for the week,” she said, “to be praying and to be a little more spiritual, in that sense, kind of just makes you feel better.”

Both jobs are tough and the pandemic has made them tougher. But for mothers – it’s all in a day’s work.

A Stop on the Underground Railroad: Take a Look Inside Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church

By Emily Drooby

On a quaint Brooklyn Heights street sits Plymouth Church. Hidden among the pews, are crucial pieces of Black History.

Senior Minister Brett Younger, took Currents News on a tour.

A marker where Abraham Lincoln sat praying for the abolition of slavery, the space where Martin Luther King Jr. preached an early version of his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Major pieces of history, but the most powerful piece is hidden just past the basement door.

“We were the Grand Central Depot of the Underground Railroad,” Brett explained.

Enslaved African Americans stopped at this church for rest and food during their long and terrifying journey. No larger overarching documentation exists of how many or who exactly passed through, only small fragments of information.

Hidden in the sub-basement of the popular church is a windowless room with no lights.

Brett explained while he turned off the lights, which were added later.

“Imagine that you’re spending the night here and you hear someone walking down the stairs and you don’t know if they’re coming to bring you food or coming to take you back to slavery,” he said. “The courage of those seeking freedom is stunning.”

The space feels haunting and hopeful at the same time.

The church’s minister at the time, Henry Ward Beecher, was a well-known abolitionist. Thousands came to hear him speak. He used all kinds of methods to help free slaves, including mock slave auctions. He also bought people’s freedom with money collected from worshipers.

A long history of fighting for what is right is what current church leaders strive to emulate. That includes highlighting complicated parts of their heritage, like a statue that sits on their grounds done by the infamous Mt. Rushmore sculptor, who had racist ties. The sculpture depicts Beecher helping to free slaves.

“You know there had to be people in the church saying ‘Hey, let’s get out of politics, ‘Hey let’s stop breaking the law. We should be working to change the laws,’” said Brett. “And yet, this was a church that understood if you’re not helping the people that need the help the most, then you’re not being a church. So that’s put a lot of pressure on us to try and live up to our heritage.”

The church is now heavily involved in fighting trafficking and fighting for racial justice.

‘Pre-K for All’ Programs Reinstated by NYC DOE in Three Brooklyn Diocese Academies

By Emily Drooby

St. Joseph Catholic Academy’s Pre-K program has been reinstated.

After spending months believing the program where his daughter flourished would be closing, Hany Saad was thrilled to discover that New York City’s decision on it had changed, and that it would still be around for his younger son.

“With Maria actually, she learned a lot, she has a lot of friends, she’s happy actually coming to school to learn to play,” he said of his daughter. “I want the same thing for Mark.”

The reinstatement is a big win for the Long Island City school.

“We are thrilled that we will be able to provide the service for local families here at St. Joseph,” said Lucy Alaimo, sthe “Pre-K for All” Program Education Director at St. Joseph Catholic Academy.

Back in September of 2020, the New York City Department of Education announced they were dropping 105 of their free Pre-K for All programs. Five of them, including St. Joseph, were Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Schools immediately appealed but were left in limbo for months as the city made their determinations. Those decisions were finally handed down this week.

“Our voices were heard,” said Thomas Chadzutko, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Brooklyn and Queens. “They did say that the schools were very well established and they were able to find additional financial resources because the areas that were renewed, there was a need for Pre-K for all programs.”

The previously affected Catholic schools whose contracts have now been renewed for the 2021-2022 academic year are Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Glendale, St. Joseph Catholic Academy, Long Island City, and St. Catherine of Genoa-St. Thérèse of Lisieux Catholic Academy, Flatbush.

Unfortunately, two schools were not renewed: St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy in Greenpoint and Sacred Heart Academy in Bayside.

While Chadzutko said officials at the Department of Education have been great about working with them during this ordeal, they did not tell them why the two schools were not renewed. They have asked for an answer.

“We know it’s a competitive process, but we also want to know, in any competition, why did we not make it to the finish line and what could we have done differently. So, I think that’s important to note,” said Chadzutko.

St. Joseph credits 1,700 parents and alumni who spoke out to lawmakers.

If it had not gone their way, they would have been forced to cut 10 jobs.

“Words can’t express what that means to me and all the teachers and staff here at St. Josephs,” said Lucy.

The decision was handed down just in time as enrollment for Pre-K for All begins Wednesday, January 24.

The schools that were not renewed will continue to appeal for their program with the help of the Superintendent’s Office and are also looking into other options.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 2/23/21

We’ll tell you what’s next for three Catholic preschools allowed to reopen by New York City.

Forced to revaccinate – New Yorkers asked to get their COVID shots again after being given spoiled vaccines.

Christians and Muslims working alongside each other to rebuild Mosul years after it was destroyed by ISIS.

History of Seneca Village Rediscovered Through Education in Central Park

By Jessica Easthope

Forty million people visit Central Park every year, but how many of them know about its past? Buried beneath the park’s enormity and fame is the history of Seneca Village.

“We have historical records of different churches and schools and small plots of land used for agriculture and livestock, a whole thriving community that often gets lost when we talk about the historical narrative of New York City as a whole,” said Urban Park Ranger Jeffrey Vandervennet.

Back when uptown Manhattan was made up of rural farmlands, an area spanning what we know now as 83rd to 89th Streets was home to a thriving community on the fringe of 19th century society.

“Seneca Village provided the true opportunity to make a chance in what you wanted and give your family stability and to pursue the American Dream that was portrayed at that time,” said Ranger Ashley Whited.

In 1845 when there were 13,000 Black Americans living in New York City, owning a certain amount of land meant you could vote, and for many Black Americans Seneca Village presented that opportunity.

“As people bought land that was a deliberate political experiment to gain power and have a voting block of people that could help to implement policy on a societal level,” said Ranger Jeff.

Seneca Village was made up of mostly free Black Americans, but was also a sanctuary for immigrants from Germany and Ireland. Over the years excavations have told the story of what life was like in Seneca Village — a story often skewed by racism.

“This area was labeled as squatters, vagrants, shanty towns, houses that are barely standing up, but as we look at work done by the Central Park Conservancy and New York Historical Society excavations and digs and seeing the foundations of these buildings, it was a stable and thriving community,” said Ranger Ashley.

In the late 1850s the residents of Seneca Village were kicked out so the city could build Central Park. Many were fairly paid for the land they owned.

The rich history of Seneca Village can tell us a lot about the world we live in today.

“Seneca Village can be used as a lens we use to view our current surroundings and what it took to get there, as well as a lens of how we want to see our community and our environment change for the better,” Ranger Ashley said.

Education allows history to be rediscovered and beneath Central Park, more is waiting to be found.

Biden Admin. Has ‘No Choice’ But to Tackle Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Says Attorney

Currents News Staff

In Texas, a tent facility to hold immigrant teenagers who cross the border without a parent has just reopened.

It’s been closed since 2019, after the Trump administration was criticized for the poor conditions there.

Just last week, U.S. border agents encountered more than 15,000 migrant children. Earlier this month, the White House Press Secretary pleaded with migrants not to come, saying “the vast majority of people will be turned away.”

The administration has its hands full right now trying to control the pandemic and vaccine distribution, but President Biden is trying to get his immigration bill passed, confirming on Feb. 22 that it’s scrapping the Trump administration changes to the U.S. citizenship test.

Immigration attorney Steve Maggi joined Currents News to speak on U.S. immigration, and what he wants to happen for clients.

Catholic School Students Band Together to Lift Spirits of Classmate Who Lost Family Members to COVID

By Jessica Easthope

Johnathan Zuluaga thought he was coming back to school at Our Lady of Sorrows to watch a talent show, but it was all part of a surprise plan: a brand new puppy for him, a mini labradoodle and Johnathan’s new best friend.

“My old dog passed away,” said Johnathan. “I didn’t have a pet and I was really lonely, so it’s really nice to have him here and take him home with me today.”

Opting to do virtual learning, Johnathan hadn’t been back to his 8th grade class in months. His chair and his sadness were front and center. The pandemic took his dad and grandmother from him and most recently, he lost the dog who was his best friend.

“It’s because of their effort that he’s here,” he said, “so I really thank them and appreciate it.”

For months, students, parents and teachers at Our Lady of Sorrows raised money hoping to bring a little happiness back into Johnathan’s life after so much loss.

But the surprise wasn’t only for Johnathan.

“We just said, ‘Hey, we have a student in need, never mentioned a name,’” said Principal Cristina Tancredi-Cruz. “We just said we’re going to raise money to make someone feel good.”

The kids got to work, waking up early every day to sell coffee and donuts at school. They raised more than $2,000 dollars never knowing who it was for.

“It just shows all the effort you put in to making them a better person,” said teacher Lisset Condo. “It just shows that it’s working. It’s paying off.”

Principal Cristina had a simple question.

“What would Jesus do?” she asked. “This is exactly what He would want us to do. This is what Catholic school is all about. It’s about paying it forward and asking for nothing in return. That’s exactly what our students did.”

But that’s not exactly right – the students did want something in return.

“I want to see him smile,” said two of Johnathan’s classmates, Dandy Naranjo and Juely Duran. “I don’t want to see him sad or be in that hole. I just want to see him smile.”

It’s a smile you can see even through his mask. And as for his new puppy, well he seemed happy too!

Johnathan’s mom Ysabel says lately, her son has been a shell of the fun-loving kid he is, but now she can breathe a sigh of relief.

“The important thing in this is that he feels that God is good,” Ysabel said. “Not everything is lost and not everything is bad.”

Johnathan doesn’t know what he wants to name his new puppy yet, but what he does know is that his new addition is the start of a new, happy chapter.

“It’s a special moment of happiness after six, nine months of sadness and worries,” Ysabel said. “I see him happy and hope comes back.”

Hope came back all because of a kind gesture. Now, the Zuluaga family is bringing hope home.

Washington Law Enforcement Testifies to Senate on Security Failures During Capitol Attack

Currents News Staff

The possibility of violence — that’s what law enforcement officials expected on January 6.

Instead police officers were attacked by an angry mob as insurrectionists stormed the capitol.

On Feb. 23, the heads of security testified at the scene of the crime about what went wrong on that deadly day.

Unaware, unprepared and overwhelmed is how those in charge of protecting Congress described the day.

“These criminals came prepared for war,” said former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund. “I look at this as an intelligence problem that impacted this event”

“We now know that we had the wrong plan,” said former House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving.

“We had planned for the possibility of violence, the possibility of some people being armed, not the possibility of a coordinated military-style attack involving thousands against the Capitol,” said Sund.

The Chief of the Capitol Police, who resigned after the riot, said the FBI had information that warned war may be waged on the Capitol, but that message never made it to leadership or the officers on the front lines, some of whom continue to suffer

“I received chemical burns to my face that still have not healed to this day,” U.S. Capitol Police Captain Carneysha Mendoza said.

Washington’s acting Metro Police Chief Robert Contee also pointed to the Defense Department for not quickly sending in the National Guard, saying, “the response was more focused on, in addition to the plan, the optics…I was just stunned. I have officers that were out there literally fighting for their lives”

In addition to the colossal communication breakdown, security officials said some police forces weren’t trained to handle the magnitude of violence and didn’t have the proper gear to respond.

“The focus going forward, needs to be on the efforts to improve intelligence and the coordination of security measures between all involved agencies,” said Sund.